Analysis

The most recent performance advertised on the Damascus Opera House website is for an evening of choral music conducted by the Russian Victor Babenko last May.

President, Bashar al-Assad, clearly felt capable of commanding the same stage. More than 1,000 supporters were allowed into the main hall to witness his political recital.

Mr Assad repeated the two principal lines of argument that he has employed since the start of the conflict in March 2011 - the opposition is led by foreign terrorists and must be defeated; his own administration is willing to carry out reforms.

The most lasting image from Mr Assad's appearance may come from the moments after his speech. Dozens of supporters surged towards the president - almost prefiguring the frenzy that might happen if the opposition got to him. The president waved, and struggled to leave the stage. For Syria's opposition, that is the entire problem.

Mr Assad accused the rebels of stealing wheat from the people, depriving children of school and cutting off electricity and medical supplies.

Mr Assad called on every citizen to defend the country according to their means.

"We are now in a state of war in every sense of the word. This war targets Syria using a handful of Syrians and many foreigners. Thus, this is a war to defend the nation," he said.

Mr Assad set out a series of steps he said would provide a solution to the crisis:

Outside powers to stop arming what he called "terrorist groups"

The army would then halt military operations, while reserving the right to defend state interests

The government would then contact what he termed "Syrian individuals and political parties" to engage in a conference of national dialogue

The conference would try to establish a national charter that would be put to a referendum, leading to parliamentary elections and a new government

The BBC's James Reynolds says the president's latest words are unlikely to persuade any in the opposition that he is ready to discuss a viable transition.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's office said the union would consider "if there is anything new in the speech", but added: "We maintain our position that Assad has to step aside and allow for a political transition."

The foreign minister of neighbouring Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, dismissed Mr Assad's remarks as "repetitions of what he's said all along".

Mr Assad's last public comments were in November, when he told Russian TV he would "live and die in Syria".

Since then opposition forces have gained control of swathes of territory in northern Syria and have formed the SNC, a more inclusive leadership that has been recognised by the US and the EU.

But rebel efforts to gain ground in and around major cities including Damascus have been met by stiff resistance and increasingly destructive air strikes.

The UK-based activist group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported fresh violence overnight into Sunday, saying that troops had bombarded rebel positions on the outskirts of Damascus, including in Beit Saham, near the airport road.